SOUTHERN Health NHS Foundation Trust has been working in partnership with care homes across Hampshire by introducing the ‘red bag’ scheme that is dramatically improving the experience of elderly and frail patients being admitted to and discharged from hospital.

According to the Trust, when a patient becomes ill, care home staff ensure that they receive a ‘red bag’ that contains details regarding their health, history and also personal belongings.

This means that on admission or discharge to hospital a healthcare professional will have direct access to important patient information, allowing them to identify the care they need to treat them quickly and efficiently, which can help reduce their hospital stay by up to four-and-a-half days.

This simple yet effective scheme, initially launched in Sutton, was introduced by consultant frailty nurses Claire Eastick and Abigail Barkham in Alton, Basingstoke, Winchester and Andover.

Dr Barkham said: “We are really passionate about ensuring that patients with frailty get the best possible care. The red bags have enabled us to work across the local system to enhance the care that those living in care homes can receive when the go in and out of hospital.”

Care homes are already seeing an impact of the scheme on the people they support.

Deborah Macartney, registered manager at Moorside Care Home St Johns Winchester, said: “The red bag scheme has improved communication between the services and my team feel confident that there is now a route for better understanding of person centred care. Likewise, on returning home the red bag provides an important handover report.

“We have definitely seen an improvement in the experience for individuals living with conditions such as dementia.”

The red bag scheme has been made possible by Southern Health’s frailty team, which has been actively fundraising across Hampshire and have so far raised an incredible £6,300. Among the donations was £5,000 from the Trust’s charity, Brighterway.

Andrew Clark, head of the charity, said: “Brighterway was delighted to fund more than 100 red bags to be used in the north-mid areas of the county.

“Getting older people back into their homes aids quicker recovery and can avoid further unnecessary health conditions developing.

“We are passionate about rolling the scheme to new areas of Hampshire very soon.”

Dr Eastick and her team are always looking for extra funding. Anyone who wants to get involved by helping to fund red bags in care homes should e-mail [email protected] or visit brighterway.org.uk.